Shrouded captive screw

Abstract

A panel fastener includes a smooth-surface cylindrical shroud encompassing the periphery of the screw head. The shroud is freely rotatable about the shank of the screw and has sides extending down around the barrel which is affixed to a panel. The shroud is fitted to the screw by an internal flange which is yieldably held between the underside of the screw head and the end of a spring. The top edge of the protective shroud does not extend above the head of the screw. The components are dimensioned so that the sides of the shroud are held away from the top side of the panel when the screw is fully compressed. The fastener may be press-fit into a panel as an assembled unit by applying ram pressure to the top of the screw assembly and barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A captive panel fastener, comprising: a screw having a head, a shank of reduced diameter, and a threaded end portion of greater diameter than said shank;   a barrel with an internal bore surrounding said screw, the bore including an area of reduced internal diameter greater than the diameter of said shank but less than said threaded end portion of said screw, said reduced diameter located about said shank;   a cylindrical shroud encompassing the periphery of said screw head and said barrel, said shroud being freely rotatable except when the screw is fully depressed axially, said shroud including an internal flange which is yieldably held between the top of a spring and the underside of said screw head, said spring acting between the top side of said barrel and the underside of said internal flange.   
     
     
       2. The panel fastener of claim 1, further described in that said shroud has a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion lying above said flange and not greater than the height of said screw head. 
     
     
       3. The panel fastener of claim 2, further described in that said bottom portion extends below said flange, the length of said bottom portion being less than the length of said barrel. 
     
     
       4. The panel fastener of claim 1, further including attachment means at the bottom end of said barrel for affixing said barrel to a metal sheet. 
     
     
       5. The panel fastener of claim 1, further described in that said reduced internal diameter of the barrel bore includes threads which are compatible with the threaded end portion of said screw such that said screw may be threaded through and past said reduced internal diameter. 
     
     
       6. The panel fastener of claim 5, further including an internally-threaded mounting structure for receiving the threads of said screw, whereby when said screw is tightened, said metal sheet is affixed to said structure. 
     
     
       7. The panel fastener of claim 6, further described in that said shroud has smooth sides to reduce friction and resist manual gripping.